Will any motherboard fit in my computer? I have been looking around on the internet to answer that question and have only found one answer...which indeed may be enough, but I would like some clarity as I'm venturing to do something I've never done before.

I have a Dell Dimension 2400 Series, this thing is maxed out as far as anyone could possibly get it with the current mobo and chipset, I'm talking 400gb HD, 2gb RAM, X-Fi Soundblaster with 5.1 Surround, 256mb NVidia card with DVI outputs, Linksys Wireless G PCI Card, DVDRW-DL Drive and a 48xCDRW Drive in it as well, I have put my share of money in this $300 computer, hahaha.

Well anyways, this thing only has PCI slots, no AGP or PCI-E, so as you all know the graphics majorly bottleneck. So I have been looking around newegg.com at new motherboards that would offer me PCI-E so I could get a better graphics card. So what I want to know is, do any of those fit? I mean when I get the new Motherboard, I would be getting a new processor as well, or I intend to atleast. Most of the motherboards they speak of, you choose by what chipset you have. If I am going to buy a new chipset, does it then matter which motherboard I decide on? I mean, they divided the choices between AMD and Intel chipsets, I've always heard that AMD was a better processor, so I would probably go that route.

So this is getting long...any help you guys can give me would be great.

P.S. - I had heard that once you replace the motherboard and chipset, that XP would detect a new BIOS and I would probably have to do a repair installation to get it working properly again. Thats just so you guys know what I did read up on! Thanks!

No, you cannot install a motherboard into those Dell enclosures because they
use proprietary parts.

If you want to change the mobo, you will also have to change the case.
As for processors, since you want to go with AMD wait for those dual core AM2 processors.
For motherboard take a look into this...

Asus nForce 590 M32NSLI

If you want to go with Intel wait until their
Conroe comes out.

Thats not 100% truel. At work we are a dell shop and have 100's of different dell computers. Only REALLLLLLLLYYYYYY old ones were propritary and REQ dell MB. But I havent seen those since the P3 933 days, and the only reason why it req a dell MB is because it used a daughter board and didnt comply to ATX standarts. Long story short, If it complies to ATX standards, then it will fit.

As far as CPU's go... I would wait until the Holiday season. Intel is releasing their Core2 chip and AMD will counter in a few months with their own new design. By the end of the year they would have transitioned to 65nm which will not only run cooler, and slightly fasyer, but cost less as it takes less silicone to make.

It all depends on how desperate you are to upgrade. But in my 10 yrs of IT, i have always noticed that buying computer equipment in the summer only leads to disappointment in the fall ^_^

This thread is old but I just need to point out something.

Quote by simfreak101Thats not 100% truel. At work we are a dell shop and have 100's of different dell computers. Only REALLLLLLLLYYYYYY old ones were propritary and REQ dell MB. But I havent seen those since the P3 933 days, and the only reason why it req a dell MB is because it used a daughter board and didnt comply to ATX standarts. Long story short, If it complies to ATX standards, then it will fit.

-Dell systems as of now including their XPS series still uses propritary parts.
-Dell also use propritary PSU. Although standard PSU may fit into a Dell system, it may
damage your motherboard and other parts.
-Some non-Dell mobos may fit in a Dell case, but if the case uses propritary connectors
then it will not work either. New Dell's connector are half the length and twice as small as
previous standard connectors.

-YOu work in a shop with Dell parts, therefore you got the parts
that you need. If you work in a shop with no Dell parts, then you will
know how annoying it is when you have to fix a Dell system especially when
changing non-standardized parts.

It wouldn't be right to say which is a better processor. Currently, Intel has the 65nm tech, and their own dual-core CPU's, so they're beating AMD's in test benchmarks barly, but AMD processors tend to be a LOT less expensive. And I would check with Dell about your computer to see if the mobo can be replaced. It depends on your model and such, I would guess. Personally, I would upgrade the case... I've seen WAY too many computers overheat with that kind of things in stock cases like those. Also, you didn't mention your power supply, which might not be able to support a newer CPU and mobo, because it sounds like you're really pushing it as-is. I do know from what I have worked with that Dell has a tendancy to.... Not use standard-sized power supplies, which means that if you need to upgrade that, you WILL need to change your case.

Quote by plyroAMD processors tend to be a LOT less expensive

For single cores, AMD's processor is less expensive than Intel's.
But for dual cores AMD's processor are more expensive than Intel's.

Prices based on Newegg.com as of 6/26/2006
Processors choosen are based on the newest technology and according to its lowest
model available from that site.

Single Core:

AMD Athlon 64 3000+ Orleans 2000MHz HT 512kb L2 Cache Socket AM2 Processor - Retail $92.00
Intel Pentium 4 631 Cedar Mill 800MHz FSB 2MB L2 Cache LGA 775 EM64T Processor - Retail $177.00

Dual Core:

AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+ Windsor 2000MHz HT 2 x 512kb L2 Cache Socket AM2 Processor - Retail $297.00
Intel Pentium D 930 Presler 800MHz FSB 2 x 2MB L2 Cache LGA 775 Dual Core Processor - Retail $186.99

AMD SC
AMD DC
Intel SC
Intel DC

Quote by tiki223For single cores, AMD's processor is less expensive than Intel's.
But for dual cores AMD's processor are more expensive than Intel's.

Thank you, I havn't checked up on the two processors recently. My fault.